Move from legacy benefits to UC

The request was partially successful.

Dear Charnwood Borough Council,

When will Universal credit roll out to Charnwood? When will Charnwood become a full service area?

What number of people in Charwood are currently claiming working tax credit and or child tax credit?

What number of people are currently claiming housing benefit?

What number of people are on at least one of the 6 benefits which will be classed as legacy benefits once Universal Credit rolls out to our area?

What provisions are being made locally to support services such as the library and the council to support those navigating the system and needing access to computers to make & manage their claims?

How will the council manage their tenants during the wait for Universal Credits to begin? Will tenants be exempt from eviction if they are waiting for UC to be processed? Will the housing element cover their rents? Will the housing element of UC cover the average rental property in Loughborough?

How will local provision of childcare manage with more single parents having to enter the workplace on higher hours?

What support will be available to those with a fluctuating monthly salary to avoid losing their benefit (if paid more frequently than monthly) or avoid sanctions (if self-employed)?

What support will be available to those sanctioned? Will the food bank in Loughborough be able to cope? Are schools prepared to support children whose parent's have been sanctioned?

What impact will be felt in the local economy if rent arrears mount & people are not able to pay their bills? Are provisions in place to support those threatened with eviction?

How will care leavers be supported for the first week of their claim when they won't be eligible for support? How will they be helped so that they are not getting into debt in their wait for UC payments to start. Will they be able to stay as looked after children until the money they will need to pay for housing & food is awarded?

What study has been done on the impact of UC on the vulnerable members of our community? What safety nets and support is being planned?

Yours faithfully,
Sarah

foi@charnwood.gov.uk, Charnwood Borough Council

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Yours sincerely
Megan Bilton
Data Protection and Information Security Officer Charnwood Borough Council e-mail [Charnwood Borough Council request email] Tel 01509 634711

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foi@charnwood.gov.uk, Charnwood Borough Council

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Dear Ms Featonby,

 

Following the above information request I am able to provide the following
information:

When will Universal credit roll out to Charnwood?  Roll-out began June
2015

 

When will Charnwood become a full service area? Was due 1st April 2018;
now delayed to 1st July 2018 following the recent Budget.

 

What number of people in Charnwood are currently claiming working tax
credit and or child tax credit? 
Working tax credit  - Private tenants = 812, Council tenants = 246   TOTAL
= 1,058

Child tax credit - Private tenants = 988, Council tenants = 303     TOTAL
= 1,291

 

What number of people are currently claiming housing benefit?
Private tenants = 3,767, Council tenants = 3,163     TOTAL = 6,930

 

What number of people are on at least one of the 6 benefits which will be
classed as legacy benefits once Universal Credit rolls out to our area?
Working tax credit  - Private tenants=812, Council tenants=246       
TOTAL=1,058

Child tax credit - Private tenants=988, Council tenants=303  TOTAL=1,291

Housing benefit - Private tenants=3,767, Council tenants=3,163     
TOTAL=6,930

ESA(IR) - Private tenants=1,133, Council tenants=1,001        TOTAL=2,134

JSA(IB) - Private tenants=121, Council tenants=98      TOTAL=219

Income support - Private tenants=121, Council tenants=275 TOTAL=396

 

What provisions are being made locally to support services such as the
library and the council to support those navigating the system and needing
access to computers to make & manage their claims? Leicestershire County
Council, Charnwood Customer Services and JobCentre Plus

 

How will the council manage their tenants during the wait for Universal
Credits to begin?  Initially within existing resources, although we are
looking to provide additional temporary resources to deal with full
service implementation during the year 2018/19. We are revising our
recovery procedures to take account of the delay in payment for new
tenants on UC

 

Will tenants be exempt from eviction if they are waiting for UC to be
processed? It would depend on the individuals circumstances in the same
way as currently exists with tenants falling into arrears because of
outstanding housing benefit claims

 

Will the housing element cover their rents?  No information held.   This
will depend on DWP universal credit rules.

 

Will the housing element of UC cover the average rental property in
Loughborough? No information held.  

 

How will local provision of childcare manage with more single parents
having to enter the workplace on higher hours?  No information held. 
Leicestershire County Council provides this function in Charnwood.

 

What support will be available to those with a fluctuating monthly salary
to avoid losing their benefit (if paid more frequently than monthly) or
avoid sanctions (if self-employed)? No information held. 

 

What support will be available to those sanctioned? No information held. 

 

Will the food bank in Loughborough be able to cope? No information held.
Not operated by Charnwood Borough Council

 

Are schools prepared to support children whose parents have been
sanctioned? 
No information held.  Leicestershire County Council provides this function
in Charnwood.

 

What impact will be felt in the local economy if rent arrears mount &
people are not able to pay their bills? No information held. 

 

Are provisions in place to support those threatened with eviction? We
have very robust supportive structures in place already and are
implementing a tenancy sustainment strategy that focuses on the challenges
that UC full service will bring us in supporting tenants to remain in
their homes.

 

How will care leavers be supported for the first week of their claim when
they won't be eligible for support? How will they be helped so that they
are not getting into debt in their wait for UC payments to start. Will
they be able to stay as looked after children until the money they will
need to pay for housing & food is awarded?
No information held.  Leicestershire County Council provides this function
in Charnwood.

 

What study has been done on the impact of UC on the vulnerable members of
our community? What safety nets and support is being planned? No
information held. 

 

If you would like to re-use the information provided, please see the
[1]re-use page on our website

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me.  I have outlined
our Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure below should you need to
make use of it.

Yours sincerely,

 

Megan Bilton

Data Protection and Information Security Officer

Charnwood Borough Council

[2][Charnwood Borough Council request email]

01509 634711

 

Charnwood Borough Council Freedom of Information and Environmental
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E-mail: [3][Charnwood Borough Council request email]

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